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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

S 235: Prostitution

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

S 235 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate on January 16, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Prostitution. Primary sponsor: Josh Kimbrell (Republican), Matt Leber (Republican), Jeff Zell (Republican). Most recent recorded action (June 5, 2026): Effective date 05/18/26.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-90, RELATING TO PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," REVISE THE STATUTE AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-100, RELATING TO FURTHER ACTS OF PROSTITUTION, SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, REVISE THE STATUTE REGARDING PROMOTING PROSTITUTION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO PROSECUTION TO PERSONS COERCED AS RESULT OF BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; BY AMENDING SECTION 16-15-110, RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "PROSTITUTION," AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND BY ADDING SECTION 16-15-115 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PERSONS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A PROSTITUTION OFFENSE MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR EXPUNGEMENT OF THE ARREST RECORD. - RATIFIED TITLE

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 3

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Josh KimbrellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate11
Matt LeberPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate41
Jeff ZellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate36

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Effective date 05/18/26
  2. Act No. 192
  3. Signed By Governor
  4. Ratified R 222
  5. Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
  6. Scrivener's error corrected
  7. Read third time and returned to Senate with amendments
  8. Roll call Yeas-107 Nays-1
  9. Read second time
  10. Amended
  11. Debate adjourned
  12. Scrivener's error corrected

Showing 12 most recent of 27 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source